Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing AASP/NJ’s goal is to create a community of collision and mechanical shops that collaboratively advance and elevate the repair industry, and year after year, during its Annual Meeting, the association recognizes an outstanding member business with the Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award.  Peotter’s Auto Body and Spa (Summit) was named the 2025 honoree for being a “unique shop that does amazing work,” as AASP/NJ President Ken Miller explained as he presented the award. Shop manager/CEO Larry Peotter feels “truly honored and grateful” for the recognition, but he is especially proud of his team for making it possible.…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing For the past couple years, New England Automotive Report has been catching up with former industry leaders from the Commonwealth, but as we were reminded in the September cover story (available at grecopublishing.com/near0925coverstory), some industry professionals never worked in a shop. Long-time readers will certainly be familiar with Joel Gausten, former editorial director at Thomas Greco Publishing, who curated this magazine for many years before he decided to take his talents to other fields. Keep reading to find out what he’s been doing and what exciting projects he has in the works! New England Automotive Report: What was your role within the collision repair…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing When it comes to running a successful automotive repair business, Jacki Skillender recognizes that it’s about more than just the cars; it’s also about instilling customers with the confidence to make the right decisions about their car care needs and creating a community that makes them feel welcome. Located on South Route 9 in Howell Township, Skillender’s Automotive Center utilizes the latest diagnostic tools and technology to offer everything from routine maintenance to more extensive repairs, but the most important service they provide to customers is education that empowers them. “Most people don’t really understand how their cars work, so we…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing As New England Automotive Report catches up with retired body shop owners who’ve made their mark on the Commonwealth collision repair industry, most have reported their relief to relinquish the battle with insurers over adequate compensation…but that’s not the case with Jack Lamborghini, former owner of Total Care Accident Repair in Raynham, who may have turned over his keys to his partner but has yet to lay down his sword to fight on behalf of those still contending with the unjust labor rate reimbursements issued by insurance carriers.  New England Automotive Report: When and how did you first get involved in the collision…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing As one of the oldest collision repair associations in the country, it’s no surprise that WMABA boasts many longstanding members, but few shops have been around since the very beginning. Farrish of Fairfax Auto Body (Fairfax, VA) is a rare exception. In fact, shop founder Lee Farrish was a founding member and the first vice president of WMABA when it first got off the ground over 50 years ago! Current shop owner Kevin Farrish is incredibly proud of the legacy his parents established in the industry. “My parents believed in this industry, but they recognized its challenges and wanted to make…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The history of the Commonwealth’s collision repair industry is filled with not-so-common repair professionals whose devotion to proper repairs and improving the field for everyone goes above and beyond expectations, and although many have spent recent years in retirement, their legacy lives on. Continuing its mission to catch up with some of these collision repairers who have left their mark on the Massachusetts auto body world, New England Automotive Report recently caught up with Ed Nalewanski, former owner of Ed’s Auto Body in Easthampton, to get the scoop on what he’s been up to. New England Automotive Report: When and how did you…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing No one can deny that the collision repair industry has faced a plethora of changes and challenges in recent years, and many shops struggle to adapt to changes; however, that’s not the case at JBS Collision Center in Chester, MD! Their willingness to try new things recently paid off big when they were recognized as WMABA’s 2025 Most Improved Shop of the Year during the Southeast Collision Conference (SCC) in May.  WMABA Executive Director Jordan Hendler and WMABA President Kris Burton both sang JBS Collision’s praises during the SCC award ceremony. Hendler commended the shop for “making a large impact in…

Published in Texas Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Few businesses are built to last. According to 2024 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 40 percent of businesses fail within the first five years and more than 65 percent falter within five years. Just over 20 percent survive to reach their 20th anniversary. It’s a pretty rare accomplishment for any business to stay viable for half a century, and such a feat certainly deserves to be celebrated! ABAT Board member Larry Cernosek (Deer Park Paint & Body; Pasadena) recently received recognition for this impressive achievement when he was honored at the Capitol for being in business 50 years. …

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing As auto body shops continue to face a workforce shortage, some collision repair instructors report a lack of interest in their programs, but that’s not the case everywhere!  Ocean County Vocational Technical School’s (OCVTS) ASE-certified auto collision course receives more interest than it can handle. The school offers two daily classes with capacity of 24 students in each class, but “we have over 100 students on a waiting list because so many kids are interested in being here,” shares OCVTS Collision Repair Technology Instructor Mike Lundin. “We’re one of the only shared-time programs in the state, meaning students attend a regular…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing No man can serve two masters. The same concept applies to body shops.  George Criswell first opened Criswell Collision Center (Annapolis, MD) in 2008 to “answer the call of [his] growing Acura and Audi dealership clientele. He decided to open his own facility because he was continually disappointed with the feedback he received about collision repair services his customers were having in the Annapolis area,” Body Shop Manager Kevin Marvin recalls.  At first, the shop operated heavily on a DRP-centric model. “It was just the thing to do – get into a relationship with insurance companies so they can ramp up…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing When it comes to attracting young people to collision repair – and retaining their interest in the field – no tool is as valuable as engagement from local industry professionals! That certainly seems to be the case at Washington County Career and Technical Education Center (WCCTEC) in Abingdon, VA. “Industry involvement is always a plus for our students,” reports WCCTEC Auto Body Repair Instructor Brian Casey. “We sometimes have guest speakers from the local industry, which gets students thinking and talking about their future, which is always a positive. We try to take three or four field trips per year because…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing Over the years, a multitude of collision repair professionals have left their mark on the Massachusetts auto body industry through their work with associations, their dedication to performing proper repairs and their devotion to their customers. New England Automotive Report resumes its mission to catch up with retired repairers to find out what they’ve been doing since they turned over their shop keys. This month, we caught up with Tom Rawson, former owner of Rawson Auto Body in Wakefield. New England Automotive Report: When did you first get into the industry?  Tom Rawson: I was into cars as a kid, but I got…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Today’s students have many options when it comes to deciding their futures, and although the auto body industry offers a multitude of exciting career paths, many collision repair educational programs struggle to attract and retain those students due to an inability to show them that potential future; outdated tools, equipment and facilities leave them stuck in the past. That’s not the case at the Carroll County Career & Technology Center (CCCTC) in Westminster, MD – the school recently invested in its collision repair technology program by renovating the shop and classroom areas. “The new shop and updated equipment have been a…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing The world of collision repair constantly changes in every imaginable way, and while Don Kennett Inc. has certainly undergone its fair share of shifts in recent years, one thing remains consistent – this family-owned-and-operated automotive paint and body supply company offers a personal touch. “The New England market has changed drastically over the past four years,” Vice President Bob Levy notes. “Private equity companies have bought out many businesses like ours, and only a handful of jobbers are left in this area. Although much of the industry’s landscape has changed – with changes in repair quality, technicians, consolidation and shops…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Nearly four decades after its doors first opened in 1986, Collision Restoration (Fairfield) has begun a brand-new journey as a member of the VIVE Collision family of auto body repair facilities! Garden State collision repairers were stunned last year when Eddie Day, a prominent and respected figure in the industry, decided to retire and sold the shop he founded so many years ago (read Day’s interview at grecopublishing.com/nja0924coverstory). But the legacy he created made the facility an ideal addition for VIVE Collision’s growing organization, which is dedicated to “redefin[ing] the collision repair industry by focusing on three core principles: People, Process and…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing While some collision repair technology instructors struggle to fill their classrooms, Philip Allen – auto body instructor at Frederick County Career & Technology Center (CTC) in Frederick, MD – laments the inability to accept every student interested in his program! The two-year program admits 18 new students each year, and when Allen began teaching at CTC in January 2019, “student interest and retention was a problem” with only 22 students filling the 36 available slots. During that year’s Shadowing Program, where ninth and 10th grade students from the county’s 12 high schools “shadow our programs for a class period to see…

Published in Hammer & Dolly – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair professionals often bemoan the scarcity of young people interested in pursuing a career in this industry, but Matt Ingram, auto body instructor for Northern Neck Technical Center (Warsaw, VA), believes this field continues to hold the same appeal it always has, as evidenced by his program’s complete enrollment year after year. “We run a two-year, ASE-accredited program at a regional technical center serving six school districts, so students get bussed in from up to 40 minutes away,” he says, noting that first-year students attend the morning session, while the afternoon session is reserved for second-year students. “We spark interest…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Distributors of automotive paint, body shop supplies and related equipment abound, but how can shops know that their supplier is truly invested in their success? Albert Kemperle LLC demonstrates their commitment to clients and collision repair excellence by offering a slew of training and educational opportunities for the industry.  “Albert Kemperle’s commitment to training is a key component of our service offering, which is designed to add value beyond just product distribution,” explains Roy Griep, territory sales manager for Albert Kemperle. “This focus on education and skill development is vital for both our company and our clients, particularly in the ever-evolving…

Published in New England Automotive Report – Thomas Greco Publishing It’s impossible to repair a vehicle without the parts necessary to do so, but over the past couple of years, sourcing parts has become increasingly challenging – between intermittent shortages, delivery issues and inflation leading to increased costs, it can be difficult to know where to find the best parts for one’s business. PartsTrader sets out to alleviate those burdens by providing a single marketplace where repairers can easily locate and acquire the parts they need. “PartsTrader is an online real-time marketplace that connects suppliers, insurers and repairers in the collision repair industry to help them find parts for vehicles,”…

Published in New Jersey Automotive – Thomas Greco Publishing Collision repair offers a wonderful career path, but fewer and fewer young men and women enter the trade each year. With students’ fading interest in collision careers resulting in decreased enrollment, many high school auto body programs have fallen into oblivion, limiting the industry’s ability to inject new blood into shops. During the 2020-2021 school year, the auto collision repair technology program at Salem County Vocational Technical School (SCVTS) in Pilesgrove desperately needed resuscitation – only 12 students were enrolled in the class, barely keeping it alive. Eager to revitalize the languishing program, SCVTS Principal Jason Helder and Jack Swain, superintendent…